ZED?

Ian!!!! I am more than happy that you’ll write more here. You rarely write over at the Agonist it seems. :-( So I am looking forward to it.

I am too wiped in the evenings from work to read anything that I have to think about, I just want to catch up on the day’s news, which I get from the blogs I read, because that’s the only place I can count on getting anything approaching the truth. Weekends is when I have time for and enjoy reading the “meatier” pieces, so go for it then, IMHO.
And thanks for asking.

Hey slow pokes when you get give a Digg for Ian new job here at the Lake!!
What does we want he asks??? Well How about everything progressive for a starter!!

Dugg!
Thanks, nahant.
You good?

You write well, Ian; well and thoughtfully. I like the to-the-point, with a punch items that I can dig into and think about. I, personally, like a quick read with a purpose. I look forward to more of your pieces.

yay Ian!

Great news.

I love this! Being a west coaster, I can’t do much during the day but read the posts. Can’t often get involved in the discussion. So…I am really happy! What time will your posts (or those of others you choose) come up?

I doing good a little tired between Julie and myself it seems to take the wind of of me a bit… But getting my second wind with quad Cappuccino and a scoop of Hagen Daz Vanilla ice cream on top… I will be cooking right along when I finish that…

Wow, what a lineup!
Welcome, Ian!

Dugg.

I don’t really understand how digg works, though. Is someone keeping track of who gets the most diggs?

oops wanted to add
digg these two too:

this one hit 100, get it going popular
digg Six Years Later, McCain Says He Still Would’ve Invaded Iraq

and up to 64 last I checked
digg FISA: Now This Is What A Patriot Sounds Like…

Congratulations Ian! Very cool. This site is a font of information, both on the front page and in the comments. It is The go to site for political information, and I’ve directed many many people here over the years.

What do we want more of on evenings and weekends? I am particularly interested in Kirk Murphy’s environmental posts - more of that, please. Also Siun’s posts on Iraq. More emptywheel, more Looseheadprop. Christy, Jane, Scarecrow, anytime. It’s like the Oscars, forgetting so many talents here.

good to hear nahant, you two have had a rough go

lol, Nahant.;)

Who’s in the lineup? Hey, newt.

What do you think the evenings and weekends need more of, or less of? What are we doing well and what are we doing badly? Let me know in comments!

my number one suggestion is more bottom up driven narrative - especially about policy. i love the give and take of figuring things out together in the comments (even when i can’t participate and can only read them later).

so, the first thing you could do would be to… uh, ask for input. *g*

ian - i think you rock! thank you so much and i’m very glad to read more of your writing here where i can discuss it with you and with my friends and fellow commenters.

Does it really matter??? As long as the Lake gets more visitors Thats what I care about… Can’t give gobs of money to help so getting out my shovel and doing a little digging is my way of helping to get those eyes to the site which gets clicks which the advertisers pay for…

Hi, Ian, and congratulations! My only major plea would be to keep “Pull Up A Chair.” It’s one of the places where we learn that our “policy wonks” have great recipes and some of the “fierce” folks have soft spots. Other than that, I’m looking forward to discussions on policy. Lord knows we’ll never find them anywhere in the “professional” media, where the Very Serious People only seem to want to talk about horse races, polls and gaffes.

Hi, Ian, and congratulations! My only major plea would be to keep “Pull Up A Chair.”

How could I forget that? An oasis of sanity. Wonderful community building. A place to de-stress. Please keep it going.

All the people who write here regularly, now including Ian.

One step ahead of Elliott already done dugg them and they won’t let ya digg once you have dugg… dam gonna have to get a new shovel soon…. this one is wearing out:>)
On the other hand I suppose I could use all my other email addresses and set up more digg accounts …. but dam.. how in hell would I keep track of who I was at any given moment??… Conundrums with unlimited possibilities… mind boggling if ya ask me:>)

luv the idea of seeing more of you, ian. would love to see more foreign policy thought pieces. here’s someone whose opinion i value–it’d be great to see him have a wider forum : Barnett Rubin

Digged.

Ian, I have this weird utopian (Postmanesque?) fantasy about how to make it impossible for an administration like this one to hijack everything, again. I want to discuss it with others. Can we have a Utopian fantasy night(s) where we throw out an idea or two about how we could remake the country in case another pandemic decimates the world or the nuclear thing happens? The Shock Doctrine tells us there should be a progressive plan ready to implement, because THEY surely have one.

Is this at all interesting to anyone but me?

Ian! I’m pleased to hear I’ll see you more often than once a week. My jonesing must have been heard through the tubez by the powers that be! I’ll thank them in person at Netroots.

“should be seeing more economics, foreign affairs and general policy during time periods when readers are able to sit down and chew a bit on big thoughts, or thoughts minced fine.” sounds great to me.

now now, digg frowns on that sort of thing

How are you today Laura, surgery go well I hope?

No real difference, except that you’ll be more likely to see more of my posts when evenings and weekends. Won’t be on a schedule, except for my 4pm Saturday piece, because I’ll mostly be writing to order.

Dugg, I was #10.

Ian, I have this weird utopian (Postmanesque?) fantasy about how to make it impossible for an administration like this one to hijack everything, again. I want to discuss it with others. Can we have a Utopian fantasy night(s) where we throw out an idea or two about how we could remake the country in case another pandemic decimates the world or the nuclear thing happens? The Shock Doctrine tells us there should be a progressive plan ready to implement, because THEY surely have one.

Is this at all interesting to anyone but me?

I think it’s an excellent idea. Starting with figuring out a meeting place if they disarm the internet.

Congratulations! I especially enjoy the insight in your economics posts. Feds Credibility “Below Zero” was fascinating.

v. well, thanks.

hope your day went okay, nahant!

But how in hell would they know…. I do know a bit how all this stuff works… But the really hard part would be to keep track which window/browser was logged in at any one time… much to cumbersome to be practical :>)

Ian, I’m thrilled to death you’ll be posting here more, as you have an amazing gift for taking the arcane and making it comprehensible. The only thing I would like to see, especially in policy-driven discussions, is more specificity, and less general “We should all….” kind of things (especially in the comments). You’re the man, and I can’t wait.

This is excellent news, Ian. Love the graphic of Odin w/his mighty world-circling Ravens. Goes well w/ yr. usual Delphic Oracle.

Book Salon is a favorite in our house, as well as the communal feel that Pull up a Chair always engenders. Phoenix Woman is a weekend fave read, also.

Suggestions being solicited? How about someone asking David Iglesias to FDL for a Book Salon on In Justice?

I think imagining what the world should be like is very important. My first blog had as its tag-line “Perhaps to be too practical is madness. To surrender dreams—this may be madness…and maddest of all, to see life as it is and not as it should be.” - from Don Quixote

Ian - does this mean no more late nite and late late nite and that we will be doing policy pieces instead?

brilliant idea - i second mommybrain!

What the evenings and weekends need more of here in Milwaukee are the coffee joints to stay open later than 10PM. This city has no night life without sitting next to drunken beer hopheads who lament the disastrous sports franchises.

Now that I got that off my chest I would suggest that Ian create a daily award of some kind. Atrios does his “wanker of the day”. Ian should maybe brainstorm a daily honor suitable to FDL content. Just a thought.

Oh nosssseeeiesss we would rue the day if that transpired… what would we do??

Right. They won’t take down the whole internet — just the ‘troublemakers’ - the ’seditious’ — and I have NO doubt that they have the capacity to do that.

Thanks. I didn’t realize that it helped with advertising. Duh.

No no. Or at least, I hadn’t considered it. I think I can say for sure that late-late is here to stay. Hadn’t thought about late.

I hope not! If so, I’ll probably be foregoing the heavy thinking and doing some heavy sleeping.

I really like your posts, Ian. They are the “meaty” ones that I save to read at night when, as you say, there is time to chew on them. Looking forward to more of your work…whatever day or time.

Is there an alternate web right now? I seem to remember hearing something about it. Could we plan for one or is that out of our reach? ( I am so clueless).

Ian,

Whoever snagged you (Jane?) is nothing short of brilliant!

Must confess that I never participate in the late night or late late night posts but always review and read them before migrating to the early morning posts. Admittedly, I usually skip the late late night one because the subject is always OT. Can’t read and absorb them all. Those I do choose to read, or usually the meaty ones.

Count me among those who view Christy’s Pull Up A Chair on Saturday mornings as a breath of fresh air, or a breather so to speak, from the weeks heavy intense, sometimes divisive, discussion. It’s a time we can all come together as every day people, not just political watchers and activists. Christy just has a way of making us all realize we are in the same boat and getting us to row in the same direction, even if some of us go off course.

I hope to meet you there! Did you see that Nancy Pelosi will be the keynote speaker (!) on Saturday morning? She’ll be taking questions.

Thers on Sat and Siun on sun. are my weekend must-reads

Hadn’t thought about late.

Late Nite and especially Late Late Nite are bastions of irreverence, music, cartoons and semi-sober commentary.

Gotta have ‘em - winding down with humor and fun at the end of the day (and some days more than others) is perfect as-is here.

I do wish, however, that you could work on getting the clocks on the East Coast to always be in sync with clocks on the West Coast - it’s annoying…

Let’s hope Al the Spook joins that conversation.

I do wish, however, that you could work on getting the clocks on the East Coast to always be in sync with clocks on the West Coast - it’s annoying…

I know. Damned sun…

Now that will be worth seeing & hearing, as I imagine there will be some pretty tough questions for her! I am hoping to get lots of pictures for our new FDL photo page.

New batteries for the flash, I’m ready!

I seem to recall Praeder A. was speaking of net shut downs recently and alternate web routes. Perhaps he can shed some light.

I’m inclined to agree on late and late/late.

this is from 2005, perhaps someone more tech savvy can provide an update on this story
Google Building Alternative Internet

are ya thinking of changing the posting times?

Ian.. congrats on the promotion. Now you can ask for the corner office with the couch and the bar.

Really… you are one of the top posters here. Your work is hard hitting and beautifully presented. I am thrilled we’ll be seeing more Ian.

I’d like to read more deconstruction of the “myths” of capitalism. I feel way too many accept it as the only economic system which can produce “good”. And I am not talking growth either.

Just in time for FISA gutting season:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200.....satellites

Be sure and bring extra batteries and If digital more SD memory cards:>)

speaking of ideas… I have been wanting to see a huge web site called Link Left where you find links to all sorts of good stuff - blogs, articles, news events, editorials from ANYONE, concerts, meet ups, especially an ACTION calendar… We need to have a central place to work from.

dugg

Thanks for the link.

Great Idea, SanderO. I concur. Ian’s knowledge of economics makes him a good candidate to write about and oversee this cutting-edge topic.

1,691 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN GOEZ ON AND ON AND…

Citizen Ian Welsh:

Welcome aboard but I hope you aren’t gunna wait for after November to offer us opportunities to “sit down and chew on big thoughts”. We gotta a big battle in front of us involving’ a bunch of real old “big thoughts” like the rule of law, separation of church and state, separation of powers and ending an unlawful occupation of a non-belligerent, peaceful country. And I hope this site is part of a movement to confront the Democratic Party on these issues over the coarse of the next couple of months, culminating in the streets of Denver in late August. I hope you’re not thinkin’ that these old ideas I referred to are passe or not interesting enough to occupy your beautiful mind.

KEEP THE FAITH AND PASS THE AMMUNITION, AND REMEMBER THERE IS NO COMPROMISING WITH FASCISM!!

I’m trying to figure out how to put a table in my luggage. We really should present her with one to put impeachment on.

Oh good. For a minute there I thought I was going to have to be good during late late n.

May be moving them around a bit. Late Late should stay where it is, but some nights there may be a post extra and thus some adjustments.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sG2ZAqtcOcs

Right on Norske. Obama’s faith-based plans are worrisome. Separation of Church and State is vitally important to the cause of recapturing our lost democracy post-Cap’n Codpiece and his Barnacle.

Cannot do without Saturday night toons.

delurking to say congrats ian and looking forward to getting more enlightened on economic and world issues ;o)

hee!

Not only a great song but a good one!

FWIW, wrt policy stuff, I put a high value on fluency. I think what injured liberals/progressives in the past was that they lost contact with the issues that impact the everyday lives of Americans.

Also wrt policy, I like the tried and true FDL formula. Unpack the rhetoric that the pols and the legacy media are using around a given issue.

Really appreciate your work.

goodness gracious, i completely forgot my manners.

congratulations, ian.

More Ian, in every way! Yes! Yes!

Lots of great ideas here, I’m seein’…

More is fine; less, not so much.

My two cents: There are a couple of things that FDL seems to do really really well: Educate us all on the issues and the background and second, when Christy, Marcy and Jane say, “To the phones!!” we are very good at calling, sending emails and faxes and LTE. I read someplace that last week before the FISA Senate thing, they got 29000 emails and 15000 phone calls or something like that. So, we are really good at sitting at out desks and cranking out. And for a lot of us, for various reasons, that’s the best we are going to do. But, I really feel sometimes that I could be more effective if only I knew what else to do. Perhaps we can have not only the meaty topics during nights and weekends, but perhaps more ’seminar-y” sorts of things(maybe with help from Laura Flanders?)..sort of FDL “college of the air” or something. How to be more physically involved…how to approach the local offices of our Congress Critters…how to become involved at the local level, etc.

Would be fun to have all of us come with doll house tables. A good thrift shop search…

Ian - I enjoy all your posts, especially the one about being in the forest. That was so nice. My suggestion is that we begin to pay more attention to Afghanistan. The forgotten war and our forgotten soldiers. We never talk about them.

I have so much camera stuff that carrying the laptop becomes problematical! I have a fairly decent setup, a Nikon D70 with goodies. Gotta have goodies.

Michael Kinsley has a website up on Creative Capitalism…lost track of the link. The whole Creative Capitalism and Gross National Happiness concept of Bhutan really intrigue me. Must have other choices rather than the Fortune 500 = total nuclear greeditization….

Ian, bravo on your new duties! Your posts are always valued reading.

howdy juslin!!!!

wish you would please delurk more often *g*

Twain–don’t miss my Barney Rubin link @23. He’s fantastic. Check out his visit to the news hour during which he skewered, grilled and demolished David Ignatius on thee subj. of Afgh’stan. It’s a beaut.

(howdy david b. long time no see)

Twain, I remember my neo-con brother telling me, when we diverted to Iraq, “Afghanistan has nothing for us, and we’d waste decades trying to drag them into the twentieth century. Afghanistan is a non-starter…..except that it gave us entree into Iraq.” I was appalled. But, whatever, he was right. He knew what the evil-doers were up to. I grieved in advance for the beautiful faces of the Afghanis. That was, I suppose, when I knew that there was little I or any of us could do. And then …………..

Late to thread, but

Congratualtions, Ian!

and Laura, I hope your surgery went well and you heal swiftly.

Good to ’see’ you, Laura.

Did the neurosurgeon obtain the visa?

I think it will be great to see more policy in the evening. I don’t read on-line during the work day, and while I don’t always have much to say on snark stuff, or the idiot gaffe of the day that makes up so much “political” news, I do care about policy, and will have something to offer in the comment section.

Surgery? It went well? And joining with Kirk in wishing you speedy reecovery!

You Be Well set up!! Looking forward to seeing all those great pictures I know you will be taking… The Laptop would really be good for LIVE BLOGGING… Hopefully one of our fine ladies will be doing that for us:>)

thanx, Kirk and David. All is fine.

Haven’t heard from neurosurgeon, so i’m assuming no luck there.

Kirk did you get my email re: rx to Iraq?

From the SunHerald:
McCain was down at the end of the table and we were talking to the head of the guerilla group here at this end of the table and I don’t know what attracted my attention,” Cochran said. “But I saw some kind of quick movement at the bottom of the table and I looked down there and John had reached over and grabbed this guy by the shirt collar and had snatched him up like he was throwing him up out of the chair to tell him what he thought about him or whatever. I don’t know what he was telling him but I thought, good grief everybody around here has got guns and we were there on a diplomatic mission. I don’t know what had happened to provoke John but he obviously got mad at the guy and he just reached over there and snatched him.”

More http://www.sunherald.com/newsu.....60742.html

Thanks. That will be featured in the NewsBox in a bit.

I will.

Not to say that I am one good at live blogging, but the heroines are on panels, I suspect. But I do await their questions of the good Speaker…

Cool… looking forward to it:>)

Happy news, Laura Doty! Best wishes.

Teddy is upstairs!
The Flip Flop Straight Talk Express Rolls Over A Log Cabin

Just a thought — mainly because of the time zone differences. Particularly with “meaty” policy posts that take some time to ponder and digest, and to give everyone (even overseas pups) a chance to weigh in with thoughts it might be wise to leave comments open for a longer period of time. (Sorry if this idea has already been brought up, I was away for a while…)

Teddy is upstairs…

thanx LH!

And thus am EPU’d!

hey hey selise - you are indeed something ;o)…. and i will delurk a bit more for sure

Ian,
Congratulations on your new digs!

A suggestion: I like the blog on the “Overton Window” by thereisnospoon over at dKos.

the Overton Window is a method for shifting public policy that takes a universe of policy outcomes on a certain topic, lists them in order from progressive to conservative, assesses the political acceptability of each, and deliberately encourages friendly think tanks and media organizations to promote the solutions that fall just outside current acceptability in order to “shift the window” in the public discourse.

Traditional Republican strategy has been to “shift the window” to the right. This tactic includes blasting anything inside the window on the left end as being “radical,” “Fringe,” or “liberal”, as well as talking up anything just outside the window on the right. Democrats have fallen for this tactic time after time. It is, after all, how we gave up the term “liberal” and allowed it to become a curse instead of a bouquet. We can do the same for the Republican brand by always using some undesireable adjective with “Republican” whenever we use the term, such as “corrupt Republican.”

At the same time, we can help push the Overton window to the left by talking up the points just outside the window to the left, thereby legitimizing those subjects.

Ian, maybe you can teach us some more about this.

Bob in HI

Suggestions?

More cowbell, of course.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=rxR8k_k_QGs

excellent!

I so agree, though I know it’s a pita for the mods. I often regret some great discussions are cut short and there’s no going back. Wish it was possible to revisit/continue earlier threads in a focused way.

Thank you, Ian. I have enjoyed your policy writings very much and look forward to more, in your new role.

yes, mommyb, it’s very interesting!

Thanks Jane and the powers that be behind this blog. Ian, I just got back from a three week trip, where I was bringing up something I learned from your writing every other day or so. Thanks for what you have brought here and what you will bring in the future. I appreciate your efforts and time and looking forward to learning more policy.

Splendid news, Ian. Welcome to the dog house! It’s where all the progressive kids hang out, under the watchful eye, no doubt, of POTUS himself, courtesy of the NSA and FISA. All present and accounted for, Sir! Ready to hold feet to fire, Sir! Happy to do so, Sir! (And by the way, it’s fun to think that the Repos get a bit of reality here, too, and that it melts them like so much water in Dorothy’s bucket.)
Keep on fighting the good fight.
CSiM

Ian - Just to follow-up on Bob’s comment @ 105 re: the Overton Window and SanderO’s comment @ 59 on the deconstruction of the “myths” of capitalism, I think we could look at taking down market fundamentalism in some of the posts. The market model is a useful tool, but not all that reflective or predictive of real world issues. The market fundamentalists (Friedmanites) have brainwashed an entire generation (or so it seems) into thinking that their view is simply “the way it is” and a great deal of policy is based on their flawed world view. I hope that we could show how wrong this view is, as many of your posts have, but expand further into showing an alternate view which is both more reflective of reality and more hopeful (if that makes any sense).